Words: Staff Writers

Olympic FC product Jordan Griffiths is taking the next step on the talented player pathway after being selected for the FFA Centre of Excellence.

Originally from Rockhampton, the 15-year-old goalkeeper, has been at Olympic for the past two PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues seasons – playing last year with Olympic Under 14 Boys.

The selection puts Griffiths firmly in the frame for selection for the Australian Under 17 national team – the Joeys – who will contest the 2016 AFC Under 16 Championship starting in September, which serves as a qualification tournament for the 2017 FIFA Under 17 World Cup to be held in India.

FFA Centre of Excellence recently completed their Foxtel National Youth League season and are now preparing for the upcoming PlayStation 4 NPL Capital Football season.

Griffiths started as an outfield player before making the switch to playing goalkeeper only three years ago and credits Olympic goalkeeping coach Boris Dragicevic for his rapid rise as a shot-stopper.

“I was an outfield player until Under 12’s. Our team didn’t have a goalkeeper towards the end of the season in Under 11’s so I put my hand up to move into the position,” Griffiths said.

Griffith’s father, Shane, also praised the guidance of Dragicevic.

“Boris has really looked after him, I’d class him as one of the best development coaches in Queensland, if not Australia,” he said.

“When Boris first started coaching Jordan he was really happy with him and said ‘we could make something out of him.’”

Talent runs within the Griffiths family with Jordan’s brother Lachlan also playing with Olympic’s Under 16 Boys team last year.

Griffiths said his ambition was to eventually play in the English Premier League, where his idol Joe Hart plays for Manchester City.